While the Eternal Sleepers were reorganizing their morale and restarting their plans after the Return of the Stars incident, the other groups that were also affected by this incident and located at the edge of human civilization were also trying to quell this dramatic chaos.
On the islands and reefs at the eastern edge of the Endless Sea, several tidal barriers were urgently set up. Powerful magical powers formed shields at the edge of the islands and reefs to replace the coastal fortifications that had been destroyed by the huge waves. Within the barriers, the Storm Children who had barely recovered their vigor were busy day and night. They had to repair the magic circles on the islands, rebuild the destroyed coastal buildings, and rescue the food and herbs that had not been contaminated or rotted. Before the next storm arrived, they had to restore these vital islands and reefs to a state where they could at least sustain themselves.
In an underground lair somewhere in Ansu, the Druil of the Everything Will Die Society had finally resealed the 'False God's Body'. However, the massive amount of biomass that they had consumed in this process could not be replenished in a short period of time. A new flesh and blood breeding plan had already begun. Meanwhile, the Grand Hierarch who had been severely exhausted in this incident had already returned to the depths of the crypt and entered a state of hibernation that could possibly last for an entire year.
In the deep sea, tens of thousands of sirens were neatly sprawled on the seabed, burping as they discussed how long the core fusion tower could last this time.
However, the mortal kingdoms on the Loren Continent would not know about this. With the arrival of the harsh winter, peace was shrouding their kingdoms and empires — peace on the surface.
Typhon Imperial Capital, Oldenheim, Noble District.
It had been two months since the last time he saw Count Winterfort. After hearing that this northern count was about to leave the Imperial Capital, Grand Duke Ferdinand Wendell once again paid a visit to the count's residence in the Imperial Capital.
One was the most powerful duke in the Empire, while the other was a count located in the cold northern region of the Empire. There was obviously a difference in status between the two, but in fact, everyone knew that Grand Duke Ferdinand and Count Winterfort were close friends. These two families had been close allies for many years. The Winterwolf Army controlled by the Winterfort Family was mainly stationed at the northwestern border of the Empire, which was adjacent to Count Winterfort's hereditary fief. Half of the warriors in the Winterwolf Army came from the Winterfort area. Not only did the Winterfort Family provide the Winterwolf Army with youths, they also provided long-term supplies for the latter. Meanwhile, the Winterfort Family acted as the protector of the Winterfort Family in the Empire's power network. This relationship had not changed for hundreds of years.
Twenty years ago, a mutual aid on the battlefield at the northern border had established the personal friendship between Ferdinand Winterfort and the current Count Winterfort, Palin Winterfort. Their friendship had lasted until today.
Compared to the last time they met, Count Winterfort looked more haggard. This powerful spellcaster had probably not had a good rest for many days and nights. His face was gray and his cheeks were sunken. Even his eyes, which were full of magical radiance, seemed to be much murkier than usual. Grand Duke Ferdinand could not help but worry about his old friend's health. "Are you alright? Palin? You look like you haven't slept for three days and three nights! "
"Counting today, it's indeed the third day." Count Winterfort sat in a wide high-back chair with a frown on his face. "I really can't sleep … His Majesty is getting more and more worrying."
"I heard that His Majesty rejected your suggestion again, and ordered the Winterfort area to prepare for the war next year … He …"
"His Majesty won't listen to any dissuasion, whether it's from you or me." Count Winterfort shook his head. "Now is definitely not a good time to start an all-out war. My Duke, no one knows the Ansu, the guardian family of the Eastern Region better than me. They're a tough nut to crack. It's true that the Empire's army is powerful and has brand-new tactics and better equipment, while the Ansu is outdated in this regard. But that doesn't mean that we can do it without any cost … At least, it's not the time yet."
"Like you, we have never doubted that the Empire's power is enough to defeat the enemy, but the key lies in the size of the cost." Grand Duke Ferdinand frowned. "But our emperor seems to have lost his judgment in this regard. He's … too radical."
"Not just radical, my Duke. Not just radical," Count Winterfort's tone turned serious. "I suspect that … that crazy curse has begun to affect His Majesty."
Grand Duke Ferdinand's eyebrows suddenly twitched. "What did you observe?"
He knew that Count Winterfort was a powerful spellcaster and an erudite master in the field of mysticism. He might be far superior to Count Winterfort in terms of martial strength, but in the field of magic and curses, there were not many people in the entire Empire who could surpass Count Winterfort. He saw the light of magic overflowing from his old friend's eyes. Count Winterfort's expression turned solemn. "I didn't observe anything, but there are some suspicious points that can be detected without the involvement of magic. His Majesty is deliberately avoiding my 'Magic Eye'. When we met, there were four royal mages standing beside him. The powerful magic interference made me unable to see anything, and that's the most suspicious point."
"His Majesty knows that there's something wrong with him …" Grand Duke Ferdinand's breathing became rapid. "But he's consciously stopping you from helping him?!"
"That's the most disturbing part. His Majesty is consciously indulging in his madness, which is more terrifying than pure madness." Count Winterfort looked into Grand Duke Ferdinand's eyes. "I've lost His Majesty's trust. He ordered me to return to my territory and not step into the Imperial City again unless I'm pardoned. So, there's nothing I can do now. You're the only one who can take action. You have to keep an eye on the palace and be prepared for the day when His Majesty completely descends into madness. According to my estimation, His Majesty is still mostly clear-headed. It's just that his personality has changed, so he can still be a qualified king when it comes to governing the country. But I'm afraid this state won't last for more than a few years … "
"I'm loyal to His Majesty the Emperor," Grand Duke Ferdinand suddenly said. He was silent for a few seconds after he finished speaking before he continued slowly, "But I'm more loyal to this country that was founded by the martyrs."
"That's something you would say." Count Winterfort smiled, but his smile soon turned strange. "Speaking of the martyrs who founded the country … Our decaying neighbor really had a martyr who stood up …"
Ferdinand Wendell's expression turned strange as well. "You mean … Grand Duke Gwen Cecil who was rumored to have come back from the dead? Do you believe that's true? "
"It doesn't matter if it's true or not, it's an established fact. According to the information I have and the results of several divinations, it's more likely to be true," Count Winterfort said solemnly. "You should've received the information that the revived pioneer hero is currently in the Gloom Mountains in the south of Ansu. He's built a pioneer territory and is trying to expand human civilization to the vicinity of the Gondor wasteland. He's also solved several cults in the process. These actions are obviously not for pleasure. If all of this is really a lie created by the Ansu, they don't have to put on such an act. It's more appropriate for a revived pioneer hero to be placed in the Captical as a totem to strengthen the legitimacy of their bastard dynasty."
"I did receive this information. The pioneer hero's actions are completely consistent with the historical description … but this matter is still too unbelievable."
"Regardless of whether it's unbelievable or not, we have to consider this as a variable," Count Winterfort said seriously. "Now that the cults are rampant in Ansu, their nobles are having a hard time dealing with these internal problems. This has led our emperor to decide to take this opportunity to launch a war. He has ordered the Winterwolf Legion to launch a new round of infiltration into Ansu, and part of the infiltration route … is very close to the Gloom Mountains."
The old duke immediately knew what Count Winterfort wanted to say. "Andesha is there."
Andesha Wendell, the successor of the Wendell family, the daughter of Bard Wendell, and the youngest Wolf General in history. After her father, Bard Wendell, went missing on the battlefield, this young and talented girl grew up quickly. It was as if she wanted to wash away the shame of her family's defeat at the border and avenge her father. She went to the battlefield and stood at the border where her father was stationed. That border was located at the southeastern corner of Ansu. It was very close to the territory of the Eastern Protector, Silas Loren, and also very close to the Gloom Mountains.
If the Emperor's order to infiltrate was passed to the frontlines, Andesha would undoubtedly choose the Gloom Mountains as the infiltration route. That place was a dangerous and polluted wasteland for most normal people, but it was a good route for elite Imperial soldiers. Furthermore, it could easily bypass the main defensive line of Ansu's Eastern Defense Legion. Ferdinand Wendell believed that if he was still the commander of the Winterwolves, he would also choose this route.
"If they're unlucky, they'll run into Duke Gawain Cecil. In that case, we'd rather believe that all the legends about the Duke, including his resurrection, are true," the Count of Winterburg said sincerely. "Andesha is a brave and powerful warrior. I've seen her grow to this day, but against a legendary hero from seven hundred years ago …"
"She should know her limits. As a commander, she will not act personally …" The old duke frowned. Even though he said that, he thought of his granddaughter's stubborn personality and her hatred for the Ansu after her father's disappearance, so he added, "I will remind her not to act rashly. She has powerful elven rangers under her command. I will remind her to send more suitable people to carry out the mission. "
The two talked for a long time about the Empire's situation, the situation at the borders, the Ansu, and the resurrected pioneer hero. Both of them knew that this was probably the last time they would see each other in Oldenheim.
After this, Count Winterfort would have to return to his Winterfort, while Duke Ferdinand would not be able to leave Oldenheim as he wished. The two old friends who were no longer young knew that time was precious, but it was ultimately limited.
The sun had set.
The lights in the Imperial Capital gradually lit up. Looking at the city that was illuminated by the lights, Duke Ferdinand, who was standing in front of the carriage, could not help but think of the legendary era — the era when human civilization fell into darkness, and the descendants of the Kingdom of Gondor opened up the wastelands to survive.
At that time, the night was dark, but the human heart was bright.
"What do you think the resurrected Duke Cecil will think when he sees this era?" He stopped in front of the carriage and turned to look at his old friend. "Evil cults are rampant, society is rotten, the borders are deserted, and the human kingdoms that were once as close as brothers … are preparing for war."
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